Robert Hill Hanna

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Robert Hill Hanna
Born 6 August 1887
Kilkeel, Ireland
Died 15 June 1967
Mount Lehman, British Columbia, Canada
Buried at Masonic Cemetery, Burnaby, British Columbia
Allegiance Canada
Service/branch Canadian Expeditionary Force
Rank Lieutenant
Unit 29th Battalion (British Columbia Regiment)
Battles/wars First World War
Awards Victoria Cross

Robert Hill Hanna VC (6 August 1887 – 15 June 1967), was an Irish born naturalised immigrant to Canada. He was a soldier in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy", during the First World War. He joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in November 1914.[1]

He was 30 years old, and a Company Sergeant-Major in the 29th Battalion, CEF, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War when the following deed took place during the Battle of Hill 70 for which he was awarded the VC.

On August 21, 1917, at Hill 70 Lens, France, Company Sergeant-Major Hanna's company met with most severe enemy resistance at a heavily protected strong point, which had beaten off three assaults and all the officers of the company had become casualties. This warrant officer, under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, coolly collected and led a party against the strong point, rushed through the wire and personally killed four of the enemy, capturing the position and silencing the machine-gun. This courageous action was responsible for the capture of a most important tactical point.

He was born near Hanna's Close in Kilkeel, County Down in Ireland, near to the Mourne Mountains. His personal sword is on the wall of Kilkeel British Legion club. He later achieved the rank of lieutenant. He died in Mount Lehman, British Columbia, Canada on 15 June 1967. Hanna is buried at the Masonic Cemetery, Burnaby, British Columbia (plot 49, section C, grave 2).

References

  1. ↑ Canadian Great War Project

Listed in order of publication year

  • The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
  • Clarke, Brian D. H. (1986). "A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men". The Irish Sword XVI (64): 185–287. 
  • Irelands VCs (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
  • Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
  • Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)

External links

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